Toy bird or other creature



c. A. wETzELL fQY BIRD OR OTHER CREATURE Filed Oct. 3, 1924 Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED s'rAr ES CLARENCE A. WETZELL,

OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

TOY BIRD OR OTHER CREATURE.

Application filed October 3, 1924. Serial No. 741,322.

This invention relates to toys that represent birds or other creatures, and more particularly to those that are adapted to be drawn along the floor, or even on the water, by a string or other pull connection.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement whereby a toy of this kind has a head, such as the head of a bird or any animal or creature, which is controlled by the pull connection, and which will turn to the right or the left when the pull connec tion is moved to either side, so that the head will automatically face in the direction in which the toy is turned from its course ahead.

Itis also an object to provide certain details and features of construction tending to increase the general efliciency and desirability of a toy of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a toy embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of said toy.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing a diiferent form of the invention.

Fig. 4; is a plan of the toy shown in Fig. 3.

As thus illustrated, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention comprises a flat body 1 of wood or other material which canbe pulled along the ground, or which will float onthe water. As shown, the toy is supposed to represent a duck or other bird, and has a head 2 swiveled to turn about a vertically disposed axis, which latter is formed by a wire 3 bent to extend upward through the body 1 and fixed in the head. A Washer 4 is preferably interposed between the head and the body, so that the head will turn easily. The wire 3 constitutes a steering device or means, as it is extended forward and upward in front of the body 1, and has a pull string 5 attached thereto, so that the toy can be pulled along the ground or on the water. The head 2 turns to the right or the left, of course, when the pull string is swung to either side, so that the head turns in the direction in which the toy changes its course of travel, in a natural. or characteristic manner As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the toy comprises a body 6 of wood or other material mounted on rear wheels 7 and having a swiveled head 8 similar to the one previously.

described. In this case, however, the front of the toy is mounted upon a truck 9 having a single wheel 10, forming a front steering device or means to which the pull string 11 is attached. The pivot 12 is rigid with the truck frame 9 and is rigid with the head 8, so that it turns in the body 6, thereby causing the head 8 to turn to the right or thde left when the pull string is swung to one s1 e.

Thus, in either case, the toy has a head which is controlled by the pull string, or by a steering device of some kind, and which turns automatically to the right or the left when the direction of travel of the toy is changed, in the manner shown and described. The toy has the appearance of being a duck or other bird, as either the body 1 or the body 6 is formed of a flat block of wood in simulation of a duck, but it is obvious that a toy having a head automatically controlled by a pull string, so that the head will turn automatically to the right or the left, can be made to represent any suitable creature or object, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In either case, there are means to simulate the body of the live creature, and in both forms of the invention there is a portion simulating a tail for the creature, such as the tail 12 in Figs. 1 and 2, and the tail 13 in Figs. 3 and 4:, and in each case the tail is rigid with the body, so that only the head of the creature is movable relatively thereto.

What I claim as my invention is A toy provided with a fiat wood block forming a body, in simulation of the body of the creature represented, a head swiveled thereon to turn to the right or left, a pull connection by which to pull the toy along the floor, and draft means on the lower end ofthe swivel and controlled by said pull connection to turn the head in either direction, the front end portion of the body being interposed between said head and said draft means and forming the bearing for the swivel, said draft means extending forward under the front end of said body, the front end portion of the body being under cut to accommodate said draft device, and disposed a distance below said head, said pull connection being attached to the front end of said draft means, and the rear end of said body having a portion representing 1 the tail of said creature.

Specification signed this 26th day of Sept.

CLARENCE A. W .ETZELL. 

